Brake device, a test method for the brake device and an elevator system

Abstract

A brake device includes: a fixed member; a moving member which is movable between a retracted position in which the moving member is adjacent to the fixed member and separate from a braking member, and a braking position in which a friction plate of the moving member contacts the braking member and provides a braking force to the braking member; an elastic member connected between the moving member and the fixed member; a coil disposed in the fixed member; and a controller which provides an operating current to the coil when the elevator is in normal operation, wherein the controller is configured to implement a test mode in which the controller provides a test current less than the operating current to the coil and determines whether the moving member has been attracted to the retracted position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A brake device, the brake device being used for an elevator and comprising:
 a fixed member; 
 a moving member which is movable between a retracted position in which the moving member is adjacent to the fixed member and separate from a braking member, and a braking position in which a friction plate of the moving member contacts the braking member and provides a braking force to the braking member; 
 an elastic member connected between the moving member and the fixed member, the elastic member tending to urge the moving member toward the braking position; 
 a coil disposed in the fixed member, the coil generating a magnetic field when being energized to attract the moving member to move toward the retracted position; and 
 a controller which provides an operating current to the coil when the elevator is in normal operation, wherein the controller is configured to implement a test mode in which the controller provides a test current less than the operating current to the coil and determines whether the moving member has been attracted to the retracted position; 
 wherein in a case that the moving member has been attracted to the retracted position, the controller resumes normal operation of the elevator, and in a case that the moving member fails to be attracted to the retracted position, the controller sends prompt information and provides a second test current to the coil, wherein the test current<the second test current<the operating current, and the controller determines whether the moving member has been attracted to the retracted position; in a case that the moving member has been attracted to the retracted position, the controller resumes normal operation of the elevator, and in a case that the moving member fails to be attracted to the retracted position, the controller controls the elevator to stop operating. 
 
     
     
       2. The brake device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to implement the test mode periodically. 
     
     
       3. The brake device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller confirms that an elevator car has stopped and unloaded before implementing the test mode. 
     
     
       4. A brake device, the brake device being used for an elevator and comprising:
 a fixed member; 
 a moving member which is movable between a retracted position in which the moving member is adjacent to the fixed member and separate from a braking member, and a braking position in which a friction plate of the moving member contacts the braking member and provides a braking force to the braking member; 
 an elastic member connected between the moving member and the fixed member, the elastic member tending to urge the moving member toward the braking position; 
 a coil disposed in the fixed member, the coil generating a magnetic field when being energized to attract the moving member to move toward the retracted position; and 
 a controller which provides an operating current to the coil when the elevator is in normal operation, wherein the controller is configured to implement a test mode in which the controller provides a test current less than the operating current to the coil and determines whether the moving member has been attracted to the retracted position; 
 wherein in the test mode, the controller resumes normal operation of the elevator in a case that the moving member has been attracted to the retracted position, and sends prompt information and/or controls the elevator to stop operating in a case that the moving member fails to be attracted to the retracted position. 
 
     
     
       5. The brake device according to  claim 1 , wherein the test current is 50%-95% of the operating current. 
     
     
       6. The brake device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller provides the test current less than the operating current in the test mode by lowering a supply voltage. 
     
     
       7. An elevator system, comprising the brake device according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       8. A method for testing a brake device, comprising:
 implementing a test mode when a moving member is in a braking position; 
 providing a test current to a coil in a fixed member, the test current being less than an operating current provided to the coil when the elevator is in normal operation; 
 determining whether the moving member is capable of being attracted to a retracted position; 
 resuming normal operation of the elevator in a case that the moving member has been attracted to the retracted position; 
 sending prompt information in a case that the moving member fails to be attracted to the retracted position, providing a second test current to the coil by the controller, wherein the test current<the second test current<the operating current, and determining whether the moving member has been attracted to the retracted position; 
 resuming normal operation of the elevator in a case that the moving member has been attracted to the retracted position, and controlling the elevator to stop operating in a case that the moving member fails to be attracted to the retracted position. 
 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising implementing the test mode in a case that an elevator car has stopped and is unloaded. 
     
     
       10. A method for testing a brake device, comprising:
 implementing a test mode when a moving member is in a braking position; 
 providing a test current to a coil in a fixed member, the test current being less than an operating current provided to the coil when the elevator is in normal operation; 
 determining whether the moving member is capable of being attracted to a retracted position; 
 resuming normal operation of the elevator in a case that the moving member has been attracted to the retracted position, and sending prompt information and/or controlling the elevator to stop operating in a case that the moving member fails to be attracted to the retracted position. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising setting the test current to be 50%-95% of the operating current. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising providing the test current less than the operating current in the test mode by lowering a supply voltage.